BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Regardless of how McAllen Memorial’s regular season finale would end Tuesday, the Mustangs planned on celebrating.
A custom wallpaper used for photo opportunities hung on the wall of the north end of McAllen Memorial’s gymnasium, waiting for Mustang players and coaches to smile and exhale after a 39-game regular season. Memorial’s regular season finale also fell on Senior Night.
McAllen Memorial (36-3) already had a district title in tow, but McAllen Rowe was the last team standing in their way of a 14-0 district season. The Warriors were competitive, but they weren’t in the match for very long. McAllen Memorial swept McAllen Rowe 25-20, 25-23, 25-17.
“This team had to grow into what it was tonight,” McAllen Memorial coach Lorena Lopez said. “It’s really nice to see the chemistry and gelling before playoffs that we were lacking earlier in the season. (McAllen) Rowe played us really well. We knew they were going to get their kills, but at no point did my girls lose focus. They had their eyes on the prize. I feel like we’re peaking at the right time.”
The Mustang seniors continued their dynamic play. Dylann Guerra had a team-high 22 digs. Valeria Treviño chipped in with 14 digs, 12 kills and a solo block.
Jocelynn Everage, the outside hitter with a 1,000 kills banner hanging in the rafters that reads “Don’t be average. Be Everage,” added 15 more kills. Everage also had eight digs and a solo block.
“I’ve wanted to go 14-0 (in district) every year since I got here,” Everage said. “Every year, this has been the same goal. To finally accomplish this in my senior year, with my family, is great. These girls are my family and they’ve worked so hard all season for this exact moment too. I can’t express just how happy I am.”
The Mustangs didn’t play a flawless match, but they never trailed at any point on Tuesday night. In the second set, McAllen Memorial opened up a 15-6 lead. McAllen Rowe (32-11) chipped its deficit down to one at 24-23, but the Mustangs regrouped and won by two points.
“That was good to see, knowing that we can comeback against a team of that caliber,” McAllen Rowe coach Magda Canales said. “There was a lot of improvement on our defense which is where we struggled. The girls that went out there to do the job did a good job.”
“I didn’t sense any panic with the girls,” Lopez said. “What I did sense was a little complacency. They got comfortable. Going into the third set, they were focused again. ‘Don’t get comfortable. Don’t let them back in.’ The fact that they can self-correct is great at this point in the year.”
The Mustangs’ 14th district win marks the final regular-season win in Lopez’s career as a varsity coach for Memorial. Lopez will assume the role of assistant athletic director under McAllen ISD athletic director Paula Gonzalez after the end of the season.
“I’ve grown up with coach Lopez since I was a baby. She’s like another mom to me,” Everage said. “When we’re in game situations, she really motivates me to be the best that I can be. To do this for her in her last year is amazing.”
McAllen Memorial will play a warmup match against Mission Veterans this weekend before facing the fourth seed from District 29-6A, which is not yet known. McAllen Rowe and McAllen High finished 11-3 in District 30-6A and will need to determine who gets the No. 2 seed.